by Sachin Murdeshwar
Mumbai: The Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL) honoured top exporters of plastics with Council Awards for the years FY16 (2015-16) and FY17 (2016-17) in the presence of Shri Subhash Desai, Hon. Maharashtra State Minister for Industries & Mining and Shri Shyamal Misra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India held on July 21, 2018. India’s export of plastics posted a growth of 17.1% at USD 8.85 billion 
during the year 2017-18 as against USD 7.56 billion in 2016-17, registering a faster pace of growth than the overall merchandise export growth from India as per PLEXCONCIL.
On the occasion, Maharashtra State Industries & Mining Minister Shri Subhash Desai announced special cluster, R&D centre & common sharing facility for plastics industry. Increase presence in existing and new markets across the globe, urged Shri Shyamal Mishra, Jt. Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Also present on the occasion were Shri AK Basak (Chairman, PLEXCONCIL), Shri Pradip Thakkar (Immediate Past Chairman, PLEXCONCIL), Shri Sribash Dasmohapatra (ED, PLEXCONCIL), and Shri Ravish Kamath (Regional Chairman – Southern Region, PLEXCONCIL).
The winners included Reliance Industries Ltd., Garware Wall Ropes Ltd., Garware Polyester Ltd., Supreme Industries Ltd., Greenlam Industries Ltd., Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Merino Industries Ltd., Polyplex Corporation Ltd., Flexituff International Limited, Vacmet India Ltd., CRI Ltd., Prima Plastics Ltd., Sheela Foam Pvt. Ltd., Condor Footwear (India) Ltd., National Plastic Industries Ltd., Poly Medicure Ltd., IVL Dhunseri Petrochem Industries Pvt. Ltd., Tokyo Plast International Ltd., Prince Corp., Gillette Diversified Operations (P) Ltd., Bhim Polyfab Industries, Flair Writing Industries Ltd. and Linc Pen & Plastics Ltd. amongst others.
Shri Subhash Desai, Hon. Maharashtra State Minister for Industries & Mining, said, “I am really happy to be here today at the awards function of PLEXCONCIL. As an industry, plastics are going to stay and the plastics business has a big role to play in the economy. It creates jobs and wealth for our country. Our share in global trade is very small and India is trying to enhance its footprints in global exports. Plastic is one industry where we can increase exports to the world. Maharashtra has taken several initiatives such as CPETs for research and development, technology and entrepreneurs. We have announced plans to develop 10 textile parks and 5 defence manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra State. We are actively considering a special cluster for plastics industry where common facility centres will be available to all types of plastic manufacturers and exporters for accessing these 
facilities. We can reserve plots for different large, medium and small players in the plastics industry with the help of the Council. We want to create R&D centres for the plastics industry amongst others. I appeal to the Council and Industry Captains to think of innovative creative ideas to recycle plastics. In the Ease of Doing Business, Maharashtra’s rankings went down but we have made quick amendments and created a common convenience platform named Maitree – 18 different departments have come together to create this single window facility for businessmen and entrepreneurs. We are confident that Maharashtra will regain its leading position in the Ease of Doing Business.”
Shri Shyamal Misra, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, said, “I take this opportunity to congratulate the exporters for their tremendous efforts for augmenting plastic exports, with special emphasis on quality and reliability. I hope the organization will create a platform for the industry to debate and introspect on the future course of action for enhancing exports. India’s export of plastics posted a growth of 17.1% at USD 8.8.85 billion during the year 2017-18 as against USD 7.56 billion in 2016-17, registering a faster pace of growth than the overall merchandise export growth from India. As an industry, we need to sit together and formalize an export strategy that will take us to the next level. Plastics exports are less than 3% of India’s overall merchandise exports in FY18 but we need to work to doubling this share. Plastic exports have phenomenal potential and we need to enhance presence in existing (France, Japan, Germany, etc.) and discover new markets such as Latin America, Africa, CIS and Asia. The proportion of raw materials in our exports is still very high and we need to target value added product exports. We should increase exports of value added products such as engineering plastics, bio plastics and bio polymers. We urge experienced Captains of the Industry to mentor the new players and encourage them to excel. We hope plastics exporters help India become a USD 5 trillion economy.”
Shri AK Basak, Chairman, PLEXCONCIL, said, “PLEXCONCIL awards are acknowledgement and testimony to the efforts and initiatives of plastics exporters. India’s plastics industry offers immense potential in terms of capacity, infrastructure and skilled manpower. India is currently ranked among the top five consumers of polymers in the world and has 30,000 plus plastic processing units employing over four million people across the country.” He further added, “The target is difficult, but achievable, and the Council intends to take concerted efforts towards this front with the assistance of its members through upgradation in technology, increased R&D spend, and innovative marketing strategies directed towards increased export of value-added plastic products from India. Besides the Council also intends to bring-in new businesses into the export fold by creating awareness for exports.”
According to PLEXCONCIL, plastics formed 2.92% of India’s overall merchandise exports in 2017-18, a tad higher than the 2.74% share held in 2016-17. India’s plastics export during the year were primarily boosted by higher shipment of plastic raw materials and value-added plastic products including Woven sacks/FIBC, Plastic sheets/films/plates, Optical items, Laminates, Packaging items, and Medical disposables to the European Union, North America, Latin America & Caribbean, and North-East Asia. India’s plastic product exports to the United States were valued at US$ 1.11 billion during the year.
